Automobile bumper



J. w. 'STAFFORD AUTOMOBIIILE BUMPER Feb. 23 1926.

Filed March 25, 1925 lll Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

Unirse stares JOHN Vl". STAFFORD, F PGRTLAND, GEEGON.

AUTOMOBILE BUMPER.

Application :filed March $55, 15125. i Serial No. 18,098.

To ZZ whom. fait muy concern.' p

Be it known that l, JOHN lV. S'rixrrouo, a citizen ot' the United States, and a resident ot' Portland. in the county ot Multnomah and State of Oregon, have invented a 1new and useful fiiutomobile Bumper, ot which the following* is a specification.

This invention relates generally to automobiles, and particularly to a special form of bumper to bc attached thereto.

The first object ot this invention is to provide an exceedingly simple and etiicient form of bumper in which light impacts will be absorbed in one portion ot the device and unusually heavy impacts will be absorbed in another portion of the device after the capacity ot the lirstmentioned porton has been passed.

The second object is to so construct the bumper that no holes need be termed in the Y metal bars which are liable to engage obstructions and to be subfected to heavy strains.

The third object is to so consti' ict the bumper that unusual violent impacts be sustainet by an automobile vithout seriously endangering; the occupants oit the machine The fourth object is to so constrmt the bumper that it will be rigid enough tor unusually heavy impacts, and at the same time resilient enough to absorb light impacts easily.

The liztth object is to so construct the bumper that 'the forward edle/'e thereoi may be readily adjusted to a vertical plane in order to malte same adaptable tok various kinds of automobiles.

These, and other objects, will. become more apparent rom'the specitication following as illustrated in the accoi'npanying` drawing` in which: i

Figure 1 is a plan ot the Jforward end of a chassis showing' the device attached thereto. Figure 2 is a sidel elevation of Figure 1. Figure 3 is an enlarged planet one end of the bumper showing` more clearly its construction. Figure t is ai'ragmentary front elevation of the bumper opposite the spring which is in line with one of the frames. Figure 5 is a section takenalong the line 5-5 in Figure 3.

Similar numbers of reference reiter to the same parts throughout the several views.

Referringin detail to the drawing` in order to illustrate the device and to show clamps 17 Aand 18 providedV at their lower open ends with the bolts 19 by means ol which they may be ric'idly secured across the members 15. rEhe rear side of cach ot the members 17 and 18 is provided with grooves adapted to receive the end coil 21 ot the conical spring v22., whose smaller closed end 23 lits around the boss 211 of the clamping' bar @n the rear side oli the member 141 is a clamping bar 2G provided with 4a boss 27. i

around wl'iich is placed a spring' 28 whose opposite end lits over a boss 2S) on the arm 30, which is attached by means ot the bolt 3l' to the bracket 32 adapted to be bolted tothe trames 12. The bolt 31 'forms a hinged joint between the members '30 and 32, whose engapjine,` faces are preferably tinted radially to insure their remaining' in the' desired position. Bolts 33 pass through the members 30, 9.6 and andare provided with nuts .311 and 35 adapted to clamp the members 25 andti between same.`

1t also preferable to groove the members 55 and 26 to insure their proper positioning on the bar 14. The members 32 are conven tionally shown, as it will berre'adily understood that their precise form will need be varied greatly in orderto accommodate the device to various sizeso cars.

Theopcration ot the device is as follows.

ilihen installed on a car, as indicated, withv the forward faces of the members 15 in a vertical plane and the bolts 31 securely tightened, the device is ready for use.

1t an automobile so equipped, for instance, strikes a slightobstruction the spring bars 15 will yield and the shock will be absorbed by them, and by the conical springs` 2Q. I'j the shock is `greater than can be ab-v sorbed readily by the members 22 and 15 Vthere will also be a yielding action to the bar 14e. I

1n event, for instance, the machine were to Ametallic cylinder 36 is placed around 37 which are held between the members Vthat the springs are called upon.

It' it is desired to increase the initial tension of the springs 28 it is only necessary to so adjust the nuts S-l and 55.

In order that the springs 28 and attendant parts may be enclosedthe their lia'ht same and is held in place by means of the li and 36, or in any other convenient manner.

rlhe members 32, aspreviously su gested, may vary greatly and in this instance are shown as oft-set in order to enable the cyl- 'nder 88 to pass along side of the frames l2. Bolts S8 are employed to secure the me a bers 32 to the trames l2.

t will, of course, be understood that instead orp employing one spring` 28 between the bolts 33 that these bolts may be moved nearer together and two or more springs may be employed by placing` the bolts through the springs instead oi outside of them. o

l am aware that many forms of automobile bumpers have been constructed in the past, such devices therefore are not being` claimed broadly, but l d-o intend to cover all such forms and modiiications as fall Jfairi'airly withinthe appended claims.

l claim: Y

l. ln an automobile bumper, the combination of a single spring backk bar; a double spring 'front bar hinged at its ends yto said back bar; helical springs between said front and rear bars; brackets slidably supporting; said bumper'in front ol' an automobile, said brackets having' compression springs mounted thereon adapted to urge said bumper for# wardly and ot greater strength than the combined strength of said spring` bars and said helicalsprings. 1

rin automobile bumper, the combination ott double front spring` bars; a single rear spring bar hinged at its ends between said iront ars; conical compression springs between said front and rear bars; clamps for attaching` said conical springs to said front and rear bars; slide bolts projecting from he rear clamps; arms adapted to be attached to the car iframe and slidably receive said slide bolts and compression springs between said arms and said rear clamps.

3. ln an automobile bumper7 the combination of double front spring members; a single rear spring' hinged between said Jfrontmembers at their outer ends; tie clamps between said front members; conical springs it ld by said tie clamps between said trent ar spring' bars; clamping; bars on the e of said rear bar liningl means said conical springs: clamping slidably passing` through sai-fl 'ms and clamping said rear bar clamping' members together; and compression springs l.:r;-ztween iid adjustable arms and said rear bar clamping; members,

En an automobile bumper7 the combination of a pair ot spaced liront and a rear spring' bar member hinged at their outer ends with plurality of compression sprinos ed between said bars; slidable brace` ets or attaching` the rear bar to an automobile iirame; and springs on said slidable braclrets arranged to urge said bumper forwardly. f

ln an automobile bumper, the combinalion ot a pair ot brackets .adapted 'to be mounted on a car frame; an arm pivotally attached to each bracket and adapted to be rigidly clamped thereto; a pair of bolts slidably passingtl'irouggh each of said arms; spaced front and rear bump-er bars; clamps kon opposite sides ot said rear bar held acfainst said bar by said slidable bolts; compression springs between said pivotal arm and said clamping arms; and conical springs between said front and rear bars.

JOHN lV. STAFFORD. 

